Stressing device
OwnerAnthony Maddisoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The device comprises a tubular body portion (1) in which are fitted first and second jaws (2, 4) for holding a specimen (3) to be tested. A compression spring (5) or pressure chamber (29), are housed within the body portion (1) and act to urge the first jaw (2) outwards whilst the second jaw (4) is secured to the body portion thereby applying stress to the specimen (3). The device is sufficiently small to enable it to be used in confined spaces, such as the underside of a vehicle or within a vehicle engine compartment, so the tests can be carried out in real-life environments. If hydraulic actuation of the pressure chamber (29) is used, varying stresses can be applied to the specimen (3) which are also dependent upon real-life movements and/or stresses.
Claims7
A stressing device for applying a stress to a specimen being tested, the device comprising:
- a tubular body portion having a bore passing from one end of the device to the other;
- first and second jaws mounted within the tubular body portion and arranged to be secured to opposite ends of a specimen to be tested;
- securing means for securing the first jaw to the body portion;
- and
- resilient means housed in a chamber within the bore of the body portion and arranged to apply a load to the second jaw and thus to the specimen being tested,
- wherein at least one cut-out is provided in the side of the body portion to provide access to a specimen held between the first and second jaws and to expose the specimen to the surrounding environment, and wherein further the first and second jaws are shaped and are provided with attachments such that, once assembled within the body portion, they are held captive and cannot become separated from the body portion, even when a specimen fails, without removing the said attachments, the device being sufficiently small to enable it to be used in confined spaces so that tests can be carried out in real-life environments.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.